Description
In spite of the general support for equal political participation, women in Slovenia still face structural and personal obstacles that need to be overcome. Based on research among target groups - women politicians, potential candidates, and “gate keepers”, the project OPENN identifies obstacles for women enetering politics at the local and national level and creates mechanisms of support, new legislation proposals and awareness raising among women and men, experts, gate keepers and the general public. Through public events, trainings, and large publicity in classical and new media, better understanding of the benefits of women’s share in politics will be facilitated. A network of women local politicians, mentorship model and platform of support will be formed on the basis of partnership exchange with the Norwegian Association for Local and Regional Authorities, who will also assist with the model of local services. A database of 100 women candidates for functions, interactive info map of women representatives, video clip against stereotypes and female opinion leaders’ interventions will support the readiness for recruitment of women into politics.
Summary of project results
The project created new knowledge about the structural and personal barriers for women’s participation in politics at the local level, and transferred these findings directly into practice. The results will be sustained by the created institutional solutions at the local level (info-help point, mentoring, continuation of bilateral exchange), internet database of women-candidates; interactive map with data on the percentage of women, continuing influence of women opinion leaders, and by published studies and articles in expert journals. The project aimed at greater awareness on gender equality and incentive for research in the area of women in politics. Impact was increased knowledge and awareness of public about obstacles for involvement in decision-making positions, about benefits of women’s participation in politics, increased interest for women’s participation in politics and readiness to implement measures for higher women’s representation in politics, and more knowledge, capacities and mutual support of women in local politics. The outcome of the project was an increased understanding of equal/unequal relations of power between men and women for the purpose of identification of appropriate responses to the imbalances that persist in the sexually-related structures of power in society – in this concrete case in participation in politics at the local and national level. The outcome has reached the level indicated with target values. Delivered outputs were: 1. Supportive environment for candidates; 2. Proposed amendments to legislation and good practices; 3. Analyses on barriers and needs of the candidates and newly elected politicians, stereotypes and needs of gatekeepers, election opportunities for women in municipalities, electoral behavior of customers. The beneficiaries were involved by the direct contact, interviewing, focus groups, workshops and educational activities, the press conferences, public panels and debates, expert articles and columns in the newspapers, manuals. The main benefits were support for solving professional, organizational and practical questions, mentorship, information about appropriate women candidates, available expertise and arguments, research reports, and manuals. The donor partnership with contributed to creating support networks at the local level and helped to identify and learn from some of the good donor’s gender equality practices, including legislative.
Summary of bilateral results
The main results of the bilateral cooperation were achieved at the local level (the Norwegian and Slovenian local organizations) in the form of the identification of good practices of local communities regarding gender equality practices such as mentoring, networking and agenda setting. Also, cooperation increased knowledge about the legal mechanisms and practices of achieving greater participation of women at both local and national level (quota and local government system). As the partner was not a research organization there were no common research results. The bilateral funds helped to increase and deepen already existing cooperation of two local organizations, Norwegian KS and Slovenian SOS) and their exchange – through study visit in Norway, and common workshops with local politicians in Slovenia. The bilateral partnership contributed to the greater visibility of the project in Slovenia, and strengthened the results at the local level: the networking of politicians and the model of mentoring.